Kalyn Ponga a case study in what makes an Origin player | Matt Cleary

17 June 2018 06:00
Queensland’s hopes of rescuing the series may rest on the 20-year-old fullbackSome years ago on a footy show lost in the mists of time, former NSW Blues coach and part-time oracle, Phil Gould, coined a phrase that stuck in the rugby league lexicon and became a catch-all catch-phrase to describe the elite players therein. That phrase was: “Origin player”. There is no higher praise.What is an Origin player? What qualities does an Origin player possess that normal players do not? It’s more than being fast and strong and skilful and tough, because rugby league’s full of those guys. Rather there’s some indefinable look to an Origin player, some way they hold themselves that points to elite league intelligence. You know it when you see it. Related: Goodbye to Mbye as Bulldogs slump to worst start in 54 years Related: Maddison Studdon to lead NSW in women's State of Origin with Ruan Sims injured Continue readingreadfullarticle

Source: TheGuardian